Jiang Youjia found Zhao Dong’s expression particularly satisfying.
Jiang Youjia had wanted to beat Zhao Dong for a long time!
This bastard put profit above everything. To think Jiang Youjia once considered him a true friend, only to realise his sincerity was used as a stepping stone by Zhao Dong, which left Jiang Youjia heartbroken.
Jiang Youjia knew he was partly to blame. He shouldn’t have meddled in who Xie Qian befriended at the start, but he’d already paid the price, his status at home plummeting, while Zhao Dong walked away unscathed. How was that fair?
Now Zhao Dong had the gall to come crawling back, not because he knew he was wrong, but because he wanted to use Jiang Youjia again.
Maybe even stab him in the back after using him, no, he should be confident and drop the “maybe”. Zhao Dong definitely wanted to screw him over. The Zhao family’s history of mooching was somehow spun by Song Foxiang into a tale of scholarly struggle. For such a biography, printing a few hundred copies for personal enjoyment or gifting to friends would be fine, but Zhao Dong wanted to market it widely. His face was thicker than a city wall!
Not only was Zhao Dong shameless himself, he also wanted to drag down whoever planned the publication of his biography.
That person could be Zou Weijun, or maybe Jiang Xuekun.
When the truth came out later, whoever handled the publication would surely be cursed for taking money without professional integrity!
Zhao Dong, with his thick skin, didn’t care about being scolded, but Zou Weijun was emotionally unstable, and Jiang Xuekun valued reputation above all. How could they let Zhao Dong drag them into this mess?
The more Jiang Youjia thought about it, the angrier he got. Earlier, he’d landed a punch on Zhao Dong’s right cheek, splitting the corner of his mouth. While Zhao Dong was still dazed, Jiang Youjia swung another hard punch to his left cheek.
Hey, now it’s symmetrical!
“Youjia, calm down!”
Several friends rushed over. Some held Jiang Youjia back, while more grabbed Zhao Dong.
Having taken two punches, Zhao Dong was sure to fight back, but his friends held him tightly, preventing him from breaking free. These were originally Jiang Youjia’s friends, only later introduced to Zhao Dong through him, so they were naturally closer to Jiang Youjia.
When Jiang Youjia hit Zhao Dong, they had to pretend to mediate, but if Zhao Dong fought back, they’d hold him down hard.
Jiang Youjia wasn’t satisfied and tried to charge at Zhao Dong again. His friends chimed in to dissuade him:
“Talk it out, hitting people is wrong.”
“Tonight was Zhao Dong’s treat to patch things up. Why are you two fighting again?”
Jiang Youjia spat, “Ask him what he did, this bastard. He actually sent someone to pursue my wife’s aunt! Sure, her aunt’s family is wealthy, but this bastard can’t just lose his mind at the sight of money. Her aunt is married, with a son in high school. Zhao Dong, what are you trying to do by breaking up her family?”
Jiang Youjia recounted how Song Foxiang, under the pretext of discussing the biography’s publication, shamelessly wrote poems to pursue Zou Weijun. When he mentioned Zou Weijun reporting Song Foxiang for “sexual harassment,” the friends trying to mediate looked at Zhao Dong differently.
Was something wrong with Zhao Dong’s brain?
Wanting to make money wasn’t wrong, but going down such a crooked path was unacceptable.
Zhao Dong’s cheeks were swollen, his mouth split, and every word made him wince.
There was a taste of rust in his mouth.
His teeth had cut the inside of his mouth.
It made every word feel like spitting blood: “Why would I ruin your aunt’s family? That was Song Foxiang acting on his own, nothing to do with me!”
Though he had connected with Xie Jinghu’s mistress.
But helping Xie Jinghu’s mistress rise, what benefit was that to him?
While she wasn’t in power, she needed his help. If she became “Mrs. Xie the Third,” he’d be useless to her and kicked aside.
For Zhao Dong, the current state of the Xie family was ideal for profiting.
Once the Xie family stabilised, he’d have no role left!
Jiang Youjia accusing him of sending Song Foxiang to pursue Zou Weijun and destabilise her family was practically insulting his intelligence!
That was what Zhao Dong couldn’t stand most.
Jiang Youjia’s mind raced, “Who knows why you’d ruin my aunt’s family? I haven’t seen Song Foxiang, but if I did, I’d beat him too. Now I get it, you suddenly want to publish a biography because you knew my aunt works in publishing, using it as an excuse to get close to her! Song Foxiang was sent by you, so whatever he does is on your orders. I’m hitting you, you shameless bastard. If you’re not convinced, go argue with my aunt’s husband. I’m definitely telling him about this!”
As a younger relative, it was normal for Jiang Youjia to tell Xie Jinghu about Zou Weijun being harassed in Rongcheng.
Only Xie Qian would suspect Xie Jinghu was laying the groundwork to divorce Zou Weijun and minimise her settlement.
Jiang Youjia thought differently.
A married man understands another married man’s mind.
A prominent figure like Xie Jinghu could have his flings, mistresses, and illegitimate children, but if his wife so much as flirted with another man, Xie Jinghu would be the first to throw punches!
Zhao Dong’s vision darkened, his head spinning.
I didn’t do it!
How could he admit to something he didn’t do?
It was clearly Song Foxiang acting on his own!
Zhao Dong had no defence. Pointing at Jiang Youjia, he turned and left with a dark face.
Jiang Youjia sneered at Zhao Dong’s back, “See, he doesn’t even deny it, that’s admitting it. I’ve seen through this guy. You all better steer clear of him too. Who knows how he earned the money for this dinner?”
The friends exchanged glances.
What was Jiang Youjia hinting at?
Though there were vague rumours about the Zhao family’s dealings abroad, that was the previous generation. Zhao Dong still carried an elite air.
But after Jiang Youjia’s words, their imaginations ran wild, and the wine in their stomachs seemed to churn.
Forget it, they’d better avoid Zhao Dong’s dinners from now on.
Jiang Youjia beat Zhao Dong, cursed him out, and felt utterly relieved.
Most importantly, he’d completely derailed Zhao Dong’s biography publication.
After this, no matter how Zhao Dong tried to manoeuvre, Jiang Xuekun’s publishing group wouldn’t take the project.
Taking it would raise too many questions.
The Xie family might think Jiang Xuekun was supporting someone to undermine Xie Jinghu!
Zhao Dong would have to find another publisher.
His goal was far from achieved, and now he’d aroused Xie Jinghu’s suspicion. Song Foxiang had truly screwed him over.
…
“Zhao Dong must be furious.”
Jiang Youjia called Xie Qian, his tone still indignant, “This bastard, of all people, picked Song Foxiang. Song Foxiang’s reputation in Rongcheng’s literary circle for womanising is well-known!”
What Zhao Dong was after, Jiang Youjia didn’t really know.
He wasn’t fully aware of Zhao Dong’s shady dealings with Xie Jinghu.
This was deliberate on Xie Qian’s part.
The more people knew a secret, the harder it was to keep.
Zhao Dong now suspected a traitor among his circle but couldn’t confirm or find them, which worked in Xie Qian’s favour.
As for Jiang Youjia saying he’d tell Xie Jinghu, Xie Qian thought Zhao Dong would speak up himself, but he didn’t stop Jiang Youjia.
Zhao Dong’s version would surely differ from his cousin-in-law’s.
How his father would feel hearing his cousin-in-law’s version, Xie Qian found himself slightly gleeful about.
